Stuck in a three-game losing streak, desperately trying to get some production out of a lineup that has been among the majors' worst, the Nationals take the field tonight in Miami facing yet another uphill battle.

As if their longstanding struggles against the Marlins aren't enough to overcome, they must again try to do it without a full deck. For the fourth straight day, Rick Ankiel is out of the lineup with a wrist injury. For the third straight day, Michael Morse is out of the lineup with a knee injury. Not the easiest way to try to take down a tough right-hander like Ricky Nolasco.

Jordan Zimmermann is on the hill for the Nats, making his fourth career start against the Marlins. Though he doesn't own a victory yet, he's pitched quite well against them, especially last August 31 when he allowed one hit while striking out nine over six superb innings (in a 1-0 loss).

I'm not in Florida for this weekend's series, so please enjoy the conversation with each another…

Donald,You have to be kidding me.Did you even read the article? it's right there:'Rick Ankiel is out of the lineup with a wrist injury. For the third straight day, Michael Morse is out of the lineup with a knee injury'.

JaneB, I read your suggestion that Cora hit leadoff; I guess it's not a horrible idea even if he has a lifetime OBP of .311. The other thing that intrigued me yesterday was Hairston 14 pitch at bat against Haliday; it was utterly brilliant; he fouled off pitch after nasty pitch and then finally singled to extend the rally. How can he look so great in that situation and completely effective less in every other instance? Also; after that at bat it would have been nice to get a more professional effort from Desmond than a lazy fly ball on the 1st pitch. I really thought we could do some damage against Haliday there and I knew that we were pretty much toast when he got out of it.

Meanwhile, KC a team everyone relegated to last place this year, which had a worst record than the Nats last year … is now considered a possible contender since their plethora of prospects seem to have finally put it together. Capped off by bringing top prospect 1B Eric Hosmer up from AAA to be in the heart of their order. They do have the top ranked farm system in major league baseball … in June it will likely drop to 2nd after Tampa Bay gets to pick 11 (I think?) in the first 90 picks.Uh Mr. Rizzo? Buehler? Buehler?

Just saw on mlb – Nyger is up to his old antics,having a hissy fit in the dugout. Is the honeymoon over in Milwaukee? I thought someone posted that he is on the dl? Anyway – here's to all of the new nats – tonight it begins, game on, bring it–tonight we get some breaks that go our way, some balls that fall in or go out –GO NATS!!!

What is it about Nyjer Morgan's name that makes it so hard for some people to spell?Is the comedian called Gerry Seinfeld?Is the star of "Friends" called Gennifer Anniston?Is the former general manager of the Nats called Gim Bowden?

Same old, same old against the Marlins. Can't find a way to put them down – They always just manage to hang around long enough to get a 'kill-shot' opportunity to cash in on. I've got an uneasy feeling it's going to happen again.

Ugly win? How is 3-2 in 10 innings ugly?——————————————-I'm guessing that has something to do with the 17 runners left on base. Also putting men on the corners with no one out in the bottom of the 10th wasn't too spectacular. I honestly couldn't believe we won the game after that.

Had 'em all the way, baybee. (Ha!)Harper cracks two more doubles and raises his average to .368. Of his 32 hits 17(!) are for extra bases — 10 doubles and 7 jacks.In the words of that famed scout, Mary Poppins:Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

With Clip and Stor both pitching 2 innings, and each throwing over 20 pitches, who's gonna pitch late inning relief tomorrow??Maybe it's time to put HRod to work. He's thrown 4 zero run innings so far.

Looks like Ibanez is hitting against the Braves too. You knew he had to come out of the slump against us, but it's not ONLY us. A win makes it all look less bad. I bet we sweep the Marlins for the first time ever this weekend.

Anon 1145 what on earth are you talking about Ibonez went 0 for 3 just like he was doing before the Nats series.When are they going to try a different hitting approach, one I like and it is is exactly what Ray Knight is calling for. In fact lets make it real easy can Eckstein Hire Knight as hitting coach. What Eckstein is preaching is not effective for a team that has no power. You can't wait deep into counts and take a strike or two all the time. Power hitters can other cannot, and the Nats all do it way too much.

You can wait deep into counts if you can protect the plate. Look at Hairston's AB against Halladay. The problem isn't taking pitches, the problem is taking strike 3. You gotta find a way to make contact on nasty stuff and wait for your pitch.This is little league.

According to Ben Goessling (5/7/11) there are players on the current Nats' team that think that the Oppp Boppo guy could help them.The only things that are keeping Harper in the minors this year are: 1)Bureaucratic/Financial, i.e. Super2 status; and 2)quasi-developmental issues that can be seen as somewhat plausible, given his age and experience. Learning CF makes sense; hitting progression makes less sense.According to Goessling, Rizzo avoids a straight answer (not unusual for Rizzo) on Harper's advancemnt.Underlings in the FO who suggest that they don't want to put pressure on Harper, make even less sense. This kid thrives under pressure. He was born to play baseball, and he knows it.There are MLB scouts, and players on the team, that think that Oppo Boppo can perform on the 25 man roster, and that's good enough for me–even if he doesn't appear in the Bigs until 2012